The state Department of Education has named Connecticut’s teacher of the year and she is said to represent “the very best of what it means to be an educator in Connecticut.”
Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker said Julia Miller, a teacher at Metropolitan Business Academy in New Haven, is Connecticut’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, “the state’s highest honor recognizing exceptional educators.”
Russell-Tucker, state Board of Education Vice Chairperson Erin Benham, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Madeline Negrón, and other state and local officials, joined to surprise Miller during a school assembly, officials said.
“Julia Miller represents the very best of what it means to be an educator in Connecticut,” said Gov. Ned Lamont, in a statement. “Her work at Metropolitan Business Academy and in the city of New Haven demonstrates her deep commitment to equity, community engagement, and innovative teaching. Teachers like Julia are at the heart of building a brighter future for both our state and our cities, and we are incredibly grateful for her dedication.”
Russell-Tucker said, “Julia Miller exemplifies the very heart of teaching—opening doors to a universe of opportunities for every student she serves.”
“Her dedication to fostering an engaging learning environment and empowering students to become active, informed citizens speaks volumes about her commitment to civic engagement and developing change makers,” Russell-Tucker said, in a statement “Julia is not only shaping the future for her students but also inspiring the next generation of educators. We are incredibly proud to honor her as the 2025 Connecticut Teacher of the Year—congratulations, Julia!”
About Miller:
- She is a graduate of New Haven Public Schools,
- She has been a teacher at the Metropolitan Business Academy for10 years ‘
- She focuses on teaching students to become informed and active community members who feel empowered to make change,
- She helped launch the district’s first “Grow Your Own” initiative designed to encourage students to pursue careers in education.
The Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council chooses the winner. Miller will now become Connecticut’s representative for 2025 National Teacher of the Year. She succeeds Connecticut’s 2024 Teacher of the Year, Kiana Foster-Mauro, a fourth-grade teacher at Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School in New London.
